Chair having flexibly supported seat and back cushions



Oct. 31, 1950 c. B. HOFFMANJU.

CHAIR HAVING FLEXIBLY suPPoRTED SEAT AND BACK cUsHoNs 5 Sheets-Sheet Il,

Filed April 3, 1947 INVENTOR. ffQ// BY l ra/fang.

ATTORNEY Oct. 31, 1950 c. B. HOFFMAN, III 2,527,635-

CHAIR HAVING FLEXIBLY sUPPoRTED SEAT AND BACK CUSHIONS Filed April 3, 1947 l 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 BYM/V ATTORNEY Oct. 31, 1950 c. B. HOFFMAN, 111 2,527,635

CHAIR HAVING FLEXIBLY sUPPoRTED SEAT AND BACK cusHoNs Filed April 3, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 31,. 1950 f-ANUEACK oUsnL-Ioivs Gaxrlll, Hifman Illaltimprtllid, eppliationepril.was@Nfl-,nwe

.. 9. claims. (o1. 175571,;9)

AMy .invention relates to chairs and seatsof the upholstered type, that is, to those which are padded and/or cushioned and generally covered withk fabric or other suitable material.

One object of my invention is to provide av flexible seat and back rest that will accommodate itself to ,the various .l contours andv positions Vof the occupant and. yetv provide. .proper support for the body.

Another*l object is. to furnish a chair ofl simpleA yet rugged construction, economical to makev and embodying .soundr principles ofY structural design with which modernmaterials maybe employed. AStill another object is to facilitatetheattachment and removal of chair-.and seat covers byinexperienced `persons bymaking thevframe -of the chair or seat accessible forP that purpose.

Further objects and vadvantagesof my. invention will beaDDaI-ent from the detailed description which follows.

. Heretofore, theconventional upholstered chair hasy consisted basicallyfof the. centuries old rigid seat. and back frame-covered with variously disposed softand springy materials. and -cushionsto providecomfort-`` With a rigid seat and back .not

conforming tothe outline or posture-of a seated person the cushion material alone cannot give proper orthopedic support. Such improvements as have been made from time` totimelhave large` ly been in. appearance and. in the types of materialemployed. and'not in basic body-supporting design of general application.

My invention permits the use of modern materials and conventional designs without outward- 1y displaying the body supporting design. It pro-VV vides curved support for the. small of:v the back' and uniform supportfor the full length ofthe thighs. It adaptsV the lt of theA chair.. to `the anatomy of, .and the posture assumed by, .the average individual and gives him full `floating support. from shoulders. to. knees.

In. .the4 accompanying .drawings showing one embodiment of myl invention and in whichthe same. number refers. to the same orsimilarpart:

Figure 1 is a perspective: viewL of. theirame showing all rigid members. assembled.

Figure'2 is the. same as Figure 1 with the addition of. the flexible seat base and certain flexible Supporting members.

,Figure 3 is the same as Figure 2 with the addi-` tion of back and seatcushionsand certain. cover supporting members.

Figure 4 is a cross section, in elevation, taken ilislled. condition as shown inlgure 3.

through the center ofthe chair in `its semi- Figures 4a, I.4b.,..a.nd.4c are enlarged detailsfof the.connections o certain ci the flex-iblwand rigid members. shown in Figure 4.V

-Figure 5f is aside elevationalviewof the chairA in .its semi-finished lcondition as, shown in Figure 3. with a person seated therein lwith dotted 'out-- lineshowing. the back restv position when. the seat is. unoccupied. `X

Figure 6 shows details of the hinge constructionatthe topfofv thev back rest.

Figure 7. is=.the;ch'air shown complete with covers in.place.

The frame I of` thechair, best shown inFigure 1-,.isV formed -of heat treated f. aluminumzalloy angle membersfcarried on' legs Y2v whichA arie-lof` wood. l-While any material may be usd'to con'- struct frame I, I nd I secure strengthj lightvvness and .utilityby the use-of a'nl aluminum'alloy and. can still maintain the conventiolfoutward appearance by using wood for-'the exposed leg'snZ. Additional advantage is that "the fabric "mmberscan, if4 desired be firmly anchored ltothe frame by clamping between angle m'emloers''andv nailsand .twine binding dispensed 'with.'"Attach f ment of webbing is'blsb. faciutatei by the' 'use gf relatively slender and accessible metal memers.

v.The curved rigid back rest 3 is a frame consistingof top bar 4 Vand'lowe'rbar 5"joined bycurved side members lIi. .l As. with the chair'frame, 4, 5, and B arelheat treated aluminum alloy angle members. Top bar 4 isf hinged by nexible hinges 1, formed of materiau sucbas industriali beitig, to top rail 8. of frame I in spaced relationship,

y asbest. shown in Figure 6.' Each 'hinge consists of a strip of such material anchoredat' each-end ina-like' manner, namen, by passing. theend over. the outside surfa'of tbeab'glb' member it is to hinge and against -the inner" surface, clamping. it in permanent position Aflat against such innerY surfaceby ayseoond angle member bolted'to the Hfst one.

.Rferrinetmigilre flexible Seat base. of. material such Ias heavy two ply industri ,belt-f insy is eured..0n..its...rea1i edge7 talon bar 5 ofbabk fejstg s. and onjitsf'fjfrward edge. to rjobs brace II afterfpassing. over 'front rail [l offrame I. Seat base' 9 is "sec'i'irefdv to., the. angles which constitutebar 5,. and GLOSS. brace. U' bribe.

Same constructies es. higss ..11arssshoatbet is byclamping the ends'flat against the inner'sur.-

faces 0f the. wel@ members bvsecenii. .angle members bolted thereto.V Thus'the seat and back` suranfzitmslgmentsf of. thechair are. ,suspended 3 between two members of the chair frame I, namely its top rail 8 and front rail I0.

Just rearward of the forward edge of exible seat base 9 cross brace II of frame I is positioned for seats of certain types of chairs. This cross brace II is set back from the front of the chair as shown and so placed that it furnishes support to the portion of seat base 9 above and forward of it for approximately one third of the seat area. As best shown in Figure 4 it may be used to anchor the end of seat base 9 after the forward edge of the seat base is passed over and rigidly secured to frontrrail I and resilient front pad I2 is sandwiched between the two opposing surfaces of the material comprising seat 9. Front pad I2 as shown is of foam rubber and cemented in place. II and front pad I2 gives resilient support to the front portion of seat base 9 and directs the major depressing effect of the weight of an occupant to the rear portion of seat 9. In addition, it has a dampening effect when the construction is exposed to vibration such as when used for train or motor vehicle seats. I may dispense with front pad I2 but I do find it important to retain a substantially unyielding support for the seat cushion between cross brace I I and front rail I0 to direct the occupants weight rearward.

An excess of the flexible material comprising it provides seat base 9 with a shallow depression between cross brace II and lower bar as shown in Figure 2. Within this depression there is secured shaped resilient sub cushion I3 to furnish a thickened cushion section and to provide a better load distribution to seat 9 shown best in Figure 4. I ndthat by the use of cushion I3 the contour that occurs with the ordinary hammock type seat is avoided and the desired shape of flexible seat base 9 is maintained. Sub cushion I3 is shown formed of foam rubber and cemented to the surface of seat base 9. Seat cushion I4 is shown constructed of foam rubber and covers the entire seat area of the chair to the extent desired to give pleasing appearance as well as utility.

Horizontal webbings I5 secured to side members 6 of back rest 3 by looping their ends about them and stitching or stapling to the standing part afford e1astic support for back cushion I6, which is also shown formed of foam rubber. Vertical webbings I5 are secured at their upper and lower ends by stitching or stapling to the upper and lower horizontal webbings respectively.

Webbings I1 may be similarly attached to the front, back and sides, except that where the seat base covers front rail I0 the webbings I I may be stitched or sewn directly to the seat base of frame I. They provide a backing for the fabric seat covers I8 shown in Figure '7 although their use may be dispensed with. Seat covers I8 are prefabricated in sections, slipped over the appropriate portions of the chair frame and buttoned, sewn, snap fastened or zippered to each other.

The arms of the chair can be upholstered as desired and the chair equipped with covers I8 (Figure 7) leaving the back rest 3 and seat base 9 in free suspension.

'Ihe advantages of my construction are apparent when the reaction of the supporting members 3 and 9 Linder loading is considered. The weight of a seated person depresses seat 9, pivoting back rest on its hinges 'I from the position shown in dotted outline in Figure 5 to that shown The use of cross brace y in full lines. This action brings the curved back rest against the back of the sitter giving support to the small of the back. With the resilient cushions adapting themselves to the minor contours of the body and distributing the weight to their underlying supports 3 and 9, and seat base 9 flexing to average shaped and sized figures, not only will comfort be provided but necessary support given in a number of positions taken by the user.

It is obvious that many variations of my invention may be employed and many embodiments utilized without departing from its scope.

What I claim is:

l. A chair comprising a supporting frame; a rigid back rest frame; a cushion overlying the front of the back rest frame; a flexible seat base with its front edge secured to the front end of the supporting frame and its rear edge secured to the bottom of the back rest frame; a cushion overlying the top of the flexible seat base; and flexible means hingeably connected on its upper edge to the top of the supporting frame to the rear of and above the front end of the seat base and on its lower edge to the top of the back rest frame.

2. A chair comprising a supporting frame; a rigid back rest frame; a cushion overlying the front of the back rest frame; flexible means hingeably connected on its upper edge to the top of the supporting frame to the rear of and above the front end of the seat base and on its lower edge to the top of the back rest frame; a flexible seat base with a slack rear portion and with its front edge secured to the front end of the supporting frame and its rear edge secured to the bottom of the back rest frame; and a resilient seat base cushion of greater thickness over the slack portion of such seat base than over the remaining area.

3. A chair comprising a supporting frame; a rigid back rest frame; a cushion overlying the front of the back rest frame; flexible means hingeably connected on its upper edge to the top of the'supporting frame to the rear of and above the front end of the seat base and on its lower edge to the top of the back rest frame; a flexible seat base with approximately two thirds of its rear portion slack and with its front edge secured to the front end of the supporting frame and its rear edge secured to the bottom of the back rest frame; means supporting the front one third of the seat base and a resilient seat base cushion of varying thickness from front to rear with its maximum thickness approximately twothirds of the distance back from its front edge.

4. A chair comprising a supporting frame; a rigid back rest frame; a cushion overlying the front of the back rest frame; flexible means hingeably connected on its upper edge to the top of the supporting frame to the rear of and above the front end of the seat base and on its lower edge to the top of the back rest frame; a flexible seat base with its front edge secured to the front end of the supporting frame and its rear edge secured to the bottom of the back rest frame; a cushion overlying the top of the flexible seat base; a strip of material flxedly secured to the supporting frame beneath the front edge of the seat base and extending rearward and downward from such edge for a distance of approximately one-third of the front to rear dimension of the seat base.

5. A chair comprising in combination, a supporting frame having a front transverse rail at its front end and a top rear transverse rail to the rear of and above the front transverse rail adapted to support a hanging back rest; a back rest frame including two side members joined at their ends by cross bars and freely suspended from such top rear transverse rail of the supporting frame by flexible means a cushion overlying the front of the back rest frame; a plu-- rality of yielding members connecting the side members and the cross bars of the back rest frame; a flexible seat base with a slack rear portion secured on its front edge to such front transverse rail of the supporting frame and on its rear edge to the lower bar of the back rest frame; a strip of material xedly secured to the front transverse rail and extending rearward and downward therefrom beneath the seat base for approximately one-third of the front to rear dimension of the seat base and secured at its rear end to the supporting frame; and a resilient cushion covering the seat base.

6. A chair comprising in combination, a supporting frame having a front transverse rail at its front end, and a top rear transverse rail to the rear of and above the front transverse rail adapted to support a hanging back rest; a back rest frame having two curved side members joined at their ends by cross bars; a plurality of yielding members connecting the side members and the cross bars of the back rest frame; said back rest frame suspended from such top rear transverse rail of the supporting frame by a flexible member hingeably connected thereto; a flexible seat base with approximately two thirds of its rear portion slack secured on its front :edge

to such front transverse rail of the supporting frame and on its rear edge to the lower bar of the back rest frame; a strip of inelastic material xedly secured to lthe front transverse rail and extending rearward and downward therefrom beneath the seat base for approximately onethird of the front to rear dimension of the vseat base and secured at its rear end to the supporting frame; a resilient cushion covering the seat base and thickened over the slack portion thereof to completely ll the depression formed by such slack; and a resilient cushion covering the back rest frame.

7. A chair comprising in combination, a supporting frame having a front transverse rail at its front end, and a top rear transverse rail at the rear of and above the front transverse rail adapted to support a hanging back rest; a back rest frame including two parallel curved side members joined at their ends by cross bars; a plurality of yielding members connecting the side members and the cross bars of the back rest frame; said back rest frame pivotably suspended from the top rear transverse rail of the supporting frame by a plurality of flexible members; a flexible seat base with approximately twothirds of its rear portion slack secured on its front edge to such front transverse rail of the supporting frame and on its rear edge to the lower bar of the back rest frame; a resilient seat cushion covering the entire seat base but having a thickened portion covering approximately the rear two-thirds area of such seat base; and a resilient cushion covering the back rest frame.

8. A chair comprising in combination, a supporting frame having a front transverse rail at its front end, a cross brace below, parallel to and rearward of such front rail, and a top rear transverse rail at the rear of and above the front transverse rail adapted to support; a hanging back rest; a back rest frame including two parallel curved side members joined at their ends -by cross bars; a plurality of strips of yielding material connecting the side members and the cross bars of the back rest frame; said back rest frame suspended from the top rear transverse rail of the supporting frame by a pair of flexible fnembers; a transverse strip of material xedly secured to the front transverse rail and to the cross brace; a resilient pad overlying such strip of material; a flexible seat base witha rear slack portion secured on its front edge to such front transverse rail of the supporting frame and on its rear edge to the lower bar of the back rest frame and passing over the said resilient pad with its slack portion lying between such resilient pad and the lower bar of the back rest frame; a resilient undercushion completely filling such seat base slack portion; a resilient top cushion covering the entire base; and a resilient cushion covering the back rest frame.

9. A chair comprising in combination, a supporting frame of light-weight metal angle members mounted on wooden legs, having a front transverse rail at its front end, a cross brace below, parallel to and rearward of such front rail approximately one-third the front to rear seat dimension, and a top rear transverse rail at the rear of and above the front transverse rail adapted to support a hanging back rest; a rigid back rest frame including two parallel curved Side members joined at their endsby cross bars; a plurality of spaced and crossed strips of yielding material connecting the side members and the cross bars of the back rest` frame; said back rest frame suspended in spaced relationship from the top rear transverse rail of the supporting frame by strips of fabric; a transverse strip of material xedly secured to the front transverse rail and to the cross brace; a resilient pad overlying such strip of material; a

flexible seat base with a slack rear portion secured on its front edge to such front transverse rail of the supporting frame and on its rear edge tothe lower bar of the back rest frame and passing over the said resilient pad with its slack portion lying between such resilient pad and the lower bar of the back rest frame; a-resilient undercushioncompletely filling such'seat base slack portion; a resilient top cushion covering lthe entire seat base; anda resilient cushion covering the back rest frame.

. CARROLL B. HOFFMAN III.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS France Aug. 1, 1939` 

